Sheppert, Samuel

 A very quick week to say the least. It’s a great day to be a missionary. All sorts of things are going on here in Durán! One thing that was big was this “Canciones de Esperanza” put on by the tabernacle choir that went to Lima to do a massive concert. And they were going to project it at all the stake centers, so we had to pass out A TON of invitations. It was really cool to watch and I was a fan for sure. It started to rain halfway through the concert. We had to leave at 9 as missionaries so we went outside and I forgot my umbrella. Not a bad thing at all, it's refreshing! The street was well flooded above the side curve and the river that was next to the church flooded and the water was past my knees so that was a rare missionary privilegio to unintentionally almost go swimming. I thought I was in Halo for a second with all the flood. It was chevere.  On the topic of big storms, one analogy that I really like to think about. We all have hurricanes in our lives, but there is...

Wow, look how the days go by. It’s been pretty wet over here, not going to lie. It’s a strange feeling right before it rains. The humidity seems to dramatically rise and you just feel it coming. I’m finally glad to say I know what thick air feels like. Reading the weather report in the morning said 87° but feels like 101°, and that was at 9 am. That was a hot day. I’ve got some boots that usually get the job done, but this ain't Curtis no more, that's for sure.  We have a pretty, gated sector in our area called the 5th Etapa. Very hard to contact over there. So we don’t spend much time there. We went over there to talk to a member that needed our help and we got in. The first people we contacted wanted to hear the message and came to church! They are very cool. Hermana Anita and Richard. We are definitely going to find some more ways to get in the gated communities now. It’s exactly your idea of a gated community in the states, but there is work to be done. I'm excited. It ...

Another day, another dollar. This week consisted of lots of finding, contacting everyone that we can. There were presidential elections all across the country on Sunday which put a damper on plans but no matter. It was crazy to see helicopters flying overhead close to the ground in Durán, and the masses leaving to go to Guayaquil to vote over a big bridge. I thought I was in an evacuation for a second. It felt like World War Z had just begun or something was gonna happen. I’ve actually taken an interest in bread here. Pan de dulce es buenísimo. We usually run to another Elder’s apartment that has a lot of weights every morning. It appears that leg day doesn’t exist on the mission but on the way back I now stop at one of the 30 bakeries near the house that only sells pan de dulce.  We have continued to teach the Espinoza family! They are really enjoying the gospel and what it is. Nothing is nicer than sitting with them and reading some good scripture, and maybe answering a question ...

This week was another grinder! Not that it wasn’t fun but the sickness got me again. The great part about getting sick is that I let God take the reigns even more. It is kind of like fasting. I can’t be as physically able on my own as I like but I’m asking for strength to find and teach from God in every second. We did find some really special people this week whose lives can be changed forever for better if they allow the gospel to do so.  Something that I think is interesting about Durán is that music is going on at all times. We walk out the door, and there's music! Walk down the street, Music! Wake up in the morning, Music is waiting! It's cool that I can recognize most of the songs now that are common and can understand them! We have been teaching the Espinoza Family! They are really awesome and love soccer. David, the dad, asks a lot of questions and loves to listen, he is very Catholic. Veronica, the mom, has a really strong testimony of the Bible and after we talked all...

This week we went to the "28 de agosto park" a lot. Which really isn't much of a park, just a very distinct neighborhood set aside from all of the rest. It’s especially awesome for the mud! I was walking down the middle of the street and it was completely flooded in the middle. We tried going to the sides so i stepped on some dirt that appeared dry but it really took my leg in about a 1 ½ feet in mud. I jumped across the rest with my other foot, but my shoe stayed in the mud. I reached as far as i could down into my print and got it, but my shoe had gotten some holes by then so the mud was all in the shoe! No regrets. I can’t be caught lacken like that, so I'll do better next time.  We are in the rainy season right now, but it hasn’t rained for more than a week so the heat is doing its job. I feel immune to sun burns right now. Im just tanning and cooking, and I mean of course only the arms and the face! I'm excited to see how ghostly the rest of my body will be b...

 I'm loving it here in Duran! It's been crazy to see the temperatures change here. We quickly learned that if hace DEMASIADO Calor, it will rain very hard the next day. It does feel like I'm in Washington with the rain.  We have been teaching some awesome converts. One named Ezequiel! He really wants to go to the temple. He was able to be baptized! He's now preparing to receive the Aaronic priesthood and enter the temple.  Having faith is still the way to go here in the mission. Have faith that you can win every day! "It's a great day to be a missionary," is the way I want to finish every day. I have been saying that every day in remembrance of every time the Blazers would win. I heard Scoot Henderson Low key is popping off. I don't know. Is that true?  Selah!!  In case I don't see yah Buenas Tardes, Buenas Noches y Buenas Noches, Élder Sheppert

What an interesting week. We checked just about everything on the list this week. We had 3 earthquakes, two were barely anything but one was a 5.0 so I could feel that one for 10 seconds. It got the district hyped for the Obra!!! We were teaching a lesson with a family of converts, a mom and her two sons. There was also a daughter but she was never baptized. Believe it or not, mid lesson, I hear “10 things I hate about you” in Spanish, going on in the other room where the daughter was. I really couldn't believe my ears. We got to talk to her after that about rom coms and Heath Ledger, and then a little about church and building faith. That was awesome. I'm excited to go back! We talked to our neighbors and they want to learn and progress! One day our whole street will have the gospel! We ran for 15 minutes down a massive dirt road to get to our next appointment. Boy, that was actually really fun.  This area is massive so we are walking with diligence. Most people take little mo...